MovieChat Forums > Se, jie (2007) Discussion > Perception about Asian male's sex appeal

Perception about Asian male's sex appeal

posted 17 years ago by chinesehorse
142 replies | jump to latest

I am raising this subject for the sake of a rational discussion about the perception of Asian male's sex appeal.

Probably no one would dispute that Tony Leung's bold performance in the sex scenes in LC sets a precendent that for the first time an Asian male actor is portrayed as a hot-blooded sexaul being on the big screen. A few posters remark how hot Tony Leung looks. One cannot help but wonder if it would help to change the perception about the sexual image of Asian male in general, and in movies and TV in particular. Let's face it. Here in the U.S., if you ask anyone to quickly come up with a few adjectives to describe an Asain woman, most likely these would be the words: sensual, beautiful, mysterous, delicate, smart, etc.--mostly words implying pretty positive sexual connotation. Ask the same question about an Asian man, what would most people conjure up? Most likely: nerdy, wonkish, awkward, asexual, etc. Why? My theory is that the way Asian male and female is portrayed in the mass media is drastically different.

I just want to start this thread to provoke some discussion. Anyone with an opinion, please chime in.

[–] evitasdad 16 years ago

you mean,Americans rely on Mass Media portrayals to form their general opinions an stereotypes?

What about from Real life??!!!!!

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] bokwandu 16 years ago

I don't think many asian guys want to be portrayed as super sexual... Since the asian mass-market media portrays asian guys in a feminine but slightly masculine manner. (ie. alot of jpop and kpop male artists have really long hair and relatively thin frames, as opposed to the likes of 50 cent and JT.)

[–] buchowski 16 years ago

Sorry dude, but Tony Leung's performance isn't going to get you a hot white chick. If anything, he raped the girl in their first sexual encounter but funny how you described it as "bold".

Maybe this is where Asian men are going wrong? Less of the "bold" and be a bit more gentle.

Why would you want this global "sex appeal"? Have you had a partner? Having a relationship with another person is about much more than just sex and you only need "sex appeal" for that one person.

[–] marta2046 16 years ago

Uhm you must not be a female, or never watch Asian films, but instead rely on stereotypes in American films.

The word "nerdy" never comes to mind when I think of Asian male actors whether Japanese, Chinese, and most definitely NOT Korean.

There are SO many gorgeous Asian men, it would be difficult to name them all.

For starters, from older films to very recent ones (though there are MANY many more)

John Lone (YEAR OF THE DRAGON, LAST EMPEROR)

Tony Leung Chiu Wai (2046, INFERNAL AFFAIRS)

Tony Leung Kai Fai (DOUBLE VISION)

Bruce Lee (ENTER THE DRAGON)

Jang Dong-Kun AKA Jang Dong-Gun (TYPHOON, COAST GUARD, TAE GUK GI)

Lee Byung-hon (BITTERSWEET LIFE)

Kwon Sang-woo (RUNNING WILD)

Yu Ji-tae (RUNNING WILD)

Song Seung-heon (ICE RAIN)

Kim Min Jun (NO MERCY FOR THE RUDE)

[–] fredstar88 16 years ago

i think ur right there, im chinese and ive thought about it before, all i can say is i agree...

[–] edavidanita 16 years ago

chinesehorse: This is an issue that has already been widely discussed by many Asian men living in north America. Basically, there is probably a censoring board in Hollywood that the film must meet criteria about how a certain race must be portrayed. The stereotypes that you've pointed out basically define the way American media want to portray Asian males. The point is really, like you said, to bring down Asian men's sex appeal. Throughout history, it is known for white men to try to conquer other nation's women and protect their own.

The issue is not just about an Asian men's sex appeal, the issue is more about the ratio of on screen appearances of Asian Men with White Women versus White Men with Asian Women. In American media, you would see that the latter is the case. And to make matters worse, Asian women play in the role and fantasize being with white men...

Even more broader, Hollywood films are shown Internationally. Not only a certain genre, but all. So you will see cases where for example, girls in Japan dream about being with American men because he is depicted as hot, funny, romantic, outgoing and strong in most of these films. Plus, that American Flag in almost every Hollywood movie should tell you something.

Now think about why other countries (China for example) censors Hollywood movies. Or why the US do not show Asian pop-culture movies (with cute young hot guys instead of the William Hung, nerdy counterpart) in their mainstream media...

Anyway, things are not as bad as it seems. The portrayal of Asian men being sexy might never be realized in American media, but anyone who has a little bit of knowledge and interest of the "other" race would find plenty of information on the Internet.

Also, if Asian men are not sex fiend or incapable of being sexy enough to stimulate women, China/India wouldn't be as populous as it is.

But I gotta agree that part to blame are Asian men themselves, they need to show their true selves and be more outgoing. Don't let the media tell you who you are, well at least not the American media...

I was born in HK and raised in Canada. So I had a fair share of racial/stereotypical issues to deal with growing up. I now got over this issue long ago, just gotta be outgoing and speak out.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Jassy 16 years ago

And a lot of Japanese women and Korean women prefer men of other nationality or race because the macho chaveunism of their countrymen. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with American media. Some Asian women desire American men because they think American men have more respect for indepent career women and are more helpful in house chores and child-rearing than their own countrymen. This perception, right or wrong, has nothing to do with sex appeal.